The new Regulations maintain the same lead limit as the previous ones but extend the scope of application.

These regulations apply to the following products:

Products that can be in contact with mouth during normal use (except kitchen utensils or product subject to the Glazed Ceramics and Glassware Regulations).

Products intended for use by a child under 14 years:

Any clothing or clothing accessory

Products that are intended for use in learning or play

Book or similar printed product (with some exceptions)

Products whose primary purpose is to facilitate the relaxation, sleep, hygiene, carrying or transportation of a child under four years of age.

Any accessible part (that may be touched, licked, mouthed or swallowed during foreseeable use of the product) of the above mentioned consumer products must not contain more than 90 mg/kg of lead (with some exceptions as described in Section 2 (2) of the Regulations).

Compared to the previous version SOR/2016-168, the updated Children’s Jewellery Regulations include the following main amendments:

Children’s jewellery must not contain more than 90 mg/kg of lead (total content).

Add cadmium content requirement (130 mg/kg) for children’s jewellery if the jewellery item is a small part after a force of not more than 4.45 N is applied.

The regulations would come into force on November 2nd, 2018. Click here for more information.

India

Concern about India new toy import policy

In 2017, the Indian Ministry of Commerce and Industry published Notification No. 26/2015-2020 about the new toy import policy which mandated imported toys to be in conformity with Indian Toy Safety Standards (IS 9873 series and IS 15644). Additionally, the notification required imported toys to be tested by a laboratory accredited by the Indian National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL), while, previously, toys tested by laboratories accredited under ILAC MRA were accepted (based on ASTM, ISO, IS or EN standards).

After its notification to the World Trade Organization (WTO) by the end of last year, in April 2018, both the European Union and Hong Kong have sent their comments and opinions to WTO raising their concern regarding this new policy as per the increased testing burden (duplicate testing, costs) on toy producers that this policy involves.